University Planning

Special Emphasis 1 - Distance Learning

Goal: Adapt and Establish National Best
Practices in Distance Learning

Priority 1: (Baseline): Provide a baseline
description of the distance learning programs and services offered at
Western Illinois University.

Expected Outcomes

Clarify the relationships between the School of Extended
Studies, Non-Traditional Programs, Non-Credit Programs, Distance
Learning, Extension, the Board of Trustees/Bachelors of Arts program,
and Degrees at a Distance for the Fire Science program.

Provide a common description of the distance learning programs
and services offered to Western Illinois University distance education
students in print and electronic materials.

Priority 2: (Benchmark): Survey best practices
in distance education in the literature and at peer and national best
practice institutions.

Expected Outcomes

Study the Higher Learning Association-North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools Best Practices in Distance Learning and
document other sources reviewed in the literature that also identify
best practices in distance education.

Identify peer and national best practice institutions for
distance learning and those traits that qualify as best practice.

Priority 3: (Plan and Implement): Develop and
implement a plan for distance education at Western Illinois University
that advances the academic mission and our core values of academic
excellence, educational opportunity, personal growth, and social
responsibility.

Expected Outcomes

Use the results of priorities 1 and 2 (above) to develop and
begin implementation of a distance learning plan for Western Illinois
University that specifically addresses academic plans for distance
learning, assessment of student learning outcomes, faculty development
and support, technological support, and other goals and priorities for
distance learning as stated in Higher Values in Higher Education
2008-2018 and the Institutional Strategic Plan for Technology at Western
Illinois University.

Identify the institutional enrollment reporting structure for
distance education. This includes identifying how other institutions
with two or more campuses count distance learning enrollment— i.e., as
an off campus entry for each campus or as a separate entity for the
entire University. Western Illinois University currently does the latter
by coding students as Macomb, Quad Cities, or Extension. A
recommendation should be made to the President and the President's
Cabinet.

Priority 4: (Evaluate and Adjust): Use
implementation results and consultation from the Commission's site
review team to further advance distance learning at Western Illinois
University.

Expected Outcomes

Document the next steps in the advancement of distance learning
at Western Illinois University as a result of priority #4 and the
Commission's site team recommendations.

Members

Roger L. Runquist, Director, Center for the Innovation of
Teaching and Research

Phyllis Self, Dean, Libraries, Co-Chair

Rick Carter, Director of Non-Traditional Programs

Richard Chamberlain, Executive Director, University Technology
and Director, Center for the Application of Information Technologies